The governor of Tulcingo de Valle, Puebla, Mexico, has informed that the exploitation of antimony at the Tulcingo mine has been suspended due to the fact that the company responsible for the mine, East Mining, has failed to provide the necessary permits.

The Company is on track to deliver significant earnings, EBITDA and cash flow growth again in 2012 as we expect the Cerro Bayo silver-gold mine will reach full production by the fourth quarter and the Costerfield gold-antimony mine will achieve more stable operations

The British Geological Survey (BGS) on Wednesday published the latest list of the 52 elements, minerals and metals most at risk of supply disruption because global production is concentrated in a few countries, many with unstable governments.

Surprisingly rare earths used in green technology and defence do not top the list but comes in at number five. Antimony, extracted mainly from stibnite (pictured), widely used for fireproofing is most at risk. The platinum group metals (auto catalysts) hold the second spot while niobium used in touch screens and scanners and tungsten for cutting tools are also at risk of supply disruption as a result of increased competition among the world's growing economies, political instability, resource nationalism, along with events such as strikes and accidents. China is the number one producer of 50% of the 52 chemicals on the list and produces 75% of the world's antimony.

The RCMP have confirmed that a criminal investigation is now underway into bribery allegations against Blackfire Exploration Ltd., a Calgary mining company. In March 2010, a coalition of non-governmental organizations forwarded documents to police that appear to show 14 payments to the mayor of Chicomuselo, Julio Cesar Velazquez Calderon, and a letter from the company to the congress of the state of Chiapas in which the company asks for the mayor to be removed from power.